Advice for families. Topics include parents, communication, parenthood, stress, balance, and fun.
Hey there! I made this video for you! When you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, do you know the steps to take to get you back on your path to a more vibrant life? Are you a little more “snippy,” unhappy, or wake up not very excited to start your day? When you’re caught up …
This is Why Feeling Stressed and Overwhelmed Can Take Over Your Life! Read More »
The holiday season is upon us. I’m writing this article right before the start of December when things start to get a little crazy. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday (love that!), and more stress to add to what can already be a stressful time of year. Gotta get the deal and save money. Oh …
You hear this word a lot this time of year: GRATITUDE. It’s that time of year again- Thanksgiving- and with it the hustle and bustle of people getting ready for family, friends, a big meal, and a day to give thanks. In our house, it also means my husband going off to play football in …
Many of you may not know, but I am the executive director of a small non-profit. I came on board when a friend asked me to consider taking the helm of the organization. I believe in their cause, and the hours and flexibility are wonderful. Plus, with all different kinds of personalities and ideas that …
This is the part 2 of my journey of meeting and marrying my soul mate. In this series of articles, I share how I found authentic and conscious love and how you can, too. In part 1, I wrote about how my childhood set me up for disaster. Entering Adulthood I flunked out of Syracuse …
How I Met My Soul Mate, Part 2: How My Childhood Affected My Choice for a Husband Read More »
This is the part 1 of my journey of meeting and marrying my soul mate. In this series of articles, I share how I found authentic and lasting love, and how you can, too. I remember meeting the love of my life like it was yesterday. I saw him standing in the parking lot of …
How I Met My Soul Mate, Part 1: My Childhood Set Me Up for Disaster Read More »
Triangles (not the shape but the relationship dynamic) can mess up relationships especially if you aren’t aware of what they are and what they can do. Everyone, to some extent, has relationships that are triangles. Triangles, according to Murray Bowen*, a psychiatrist and one of the early marriage and family therapists, are “the smallest stable …
It’s that time of year again in the United States–Thanksgiving time! I love this time of year: creating great memories of culinary feats, satiety, and wonderful company. In other words: Thanksgiving is a time where good company and lots of good food combine to create wonderful memories. Thanksgiving is a day that many associate with …
Glenda (not her real name) isn’t happy. It’s weird too–she feels like she should be. She’s got a great job and her kids are busy and doing pretty well in school. She has a great group of friends, and her parents are healthy and live an hour away from her. Her marriage is okay. It …
I’ve got a question for you: On a scale of one to ten, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest, how good of a role model for a loving relationship are you and your partner to your child(ren)? How do you think your partner would answer this? Your relationship with your partner …
One of the hardest things about divorce if you’re a parent is having to now split custody of your kids with your ex. I used to be a stay-at-home mother–a conscious decision that was made by both of us for the well-being of our children. Then, with the break-up of our marriage, I found myself forced to …
One Little Thing They Didn’t Tell You About Co-Parenting Read More »
Being a mother means many things: providing love and care being a disciplinarian keeping track of schedules driving, feeding, shopping for your kids being their protector, their rock and home base A mother wears many hats: chauffeur, manager, coach, teacher, nurse, …I know there’s so much more on this list that I’m leaving out. A …
Reading through dozens of articles on eating disorders and parenting practices (this is for a class in the Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program I’m enrolled in) recently has started me thinking: You can proactively take charge of your parenting by implementing some changes starting today. It doesn’t mean you won’t have issues come up, …
As a student in a Marriage and Family Therapy program, you cover a wwwwiiiiiiddddddde range of topics in your studies. One of the topics covered is attention deficit/hyperactive disorder–or ADHD for short. You may know someone personally who has ADHD. I’m also willing to bet many people out there have some traits of ADHD at …
Parenthood. It’s glorious and laborious. It’s oh-so-wonderfully meaningful yet pull-your-hair-out challenging. If you’re a parent of young children and babies, you’re struggling for adequate sleep and other basic needs. Parents of older children and adolescents–maybe you’re struggling for balance, a stress-free household, and sanity. At one point, I had three kids all under five years …
Burnt Out Parent? Improve Your Life with the 3 R’s Read More »
Parenting has been around for thousands and thousands of years. Yet I, without knowing you, the reader, or most of the world’s population, I am going to go out on a limb here and state that nowhere on this planet can anyone call themselves “the perfect parent.” The perfect parent doesn’t exist. There’s no such …
Most parents need parental guidance at some time during their kids’ lives. Maybe they get their parenting tips from loved ones (whether it’s solicited or not) or they might get it from books or the Internet. Wherever the information comes from, searching for guidance on a particular challenge can be frustrating because it may not …
Child or Teen Acting Out? Consult Your Future Self Read More »
As a coach and counselor, I consider a major part of my job is bringing out the best in people. Isn’t that a wonderful job description!? But guess what! You have that job too! Part of your job as Loved One to others is to bring out the best in people. If you are in …
Parent? Partner? Bring Out the Best in Your Loved Ones Read More »
I have had several challenges during my child- and adulthood that have helped define the person I am today. And what has gotten me through them is knowing this: This too will pass. When I was seven years old, I lost my adoptive mother. Pregnant at the time, she passed away suddenly from a pulmonary …
Recently, I published the following quote on Twitter: “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”- The Buddha One of the things I teach my coaching clients is to keep an inspiration file–something that allows them to …
When you’re the head of a busy family, your needs often get smushed down to accommodate everyone else’s needs. Your kids need your attention; your spouse does, too. Each day presents a challenge: How can I make it through the day without letting the busyness get to me and my stress level? Can I ask …
Harmony. 1. agreement; accord; harmonious relations. 2. a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity (from dictionary.com). Harmony is also used to refer to music; t’s the blending of chords that produces sound that is pleasing to listen to. Harmony at home. Where individuals in a home create a place that is pleasant to …
Have you ever watched a movie and its message stayed with you long afterwards? Recently, I watched the movie “Undefeated,” a documentary based on the true story of a high school football team, the Manassas Tigers, who when the movie begins, have yet to have a winning season. The high school serves a very poor …
It’s that emotional time of the year–it’s the holidays! For some people, the stress of doing it all, and doing it perfectly creates a stressed out ball of nerves. You know what I’m talking about! If it’s not you, you know someone like this. I’m sure that’s not how they want to be creating lasting …
It’s that Emotional Time of the Year: The Holidays! Read More »
Back when you were a teenager, you probably remember trying to figure out who you were. Maybe you tried different hairstyles, clothing, sayings…During the adolescent stage of development, your teen is seeking the answer to the major life question: Who am I? As a parent, your answer to your child’s question who am I? might be along the lines of …
I love all the seasons–they all have their special traditions and memories for me. Fall is no exception. Fall is a wonderful time to be out in nature. It’s a lovely time of year to go for a hike or go for a run on trails to see the beautiful foliage. Family traditions mean a lot and …
How to Create Meaningful Traditions with Your Family–Simple Fall Pleasures Read More »
Having given birth to three beautiful, healthy baby girls and as the mother of a wonderful stepson, I can truly appreciate the concept of celebrating birthdays. The actual birth day is a wonderful celebration of life, miracles, and love. Each year through the concept of birthdays, we celebrate the gift of a person’s birth and …
Parenting is probably the hardest job out there, but it can really provide us with innumerable lessons for growth. I recently read a post called What if We Gave Them the Benefit of the Doubt? It was a post about a parent going right to blame when a child spilled an expensive bag of fruit all …
“When you meet anyone, treat the event as a holy encounter. It’s through others that we either find or love our self. For you see, nothing is accomplished without others. When you eliminate the concept of separation from your thoughts and your behavior, you begin to feel your connection to everything and everyone.” – Dr. Wayne …
Moving Past the Pain of Being Rejected by Your Family Read More »
I love this quote from Brene Brown that I found in an interview with her for the Washington Post: “Are you the adult that you want your child to grow up to be?” Isn’t that a great question? It makes you think about how you want to be in the world as a role …
Brene Brown’s “Are You the Adult that You Want Your Child to Grow Up to Be?” Read More »
I love learning about relationships and psychology. In part it is because I have spent my life working on my own personal psychology and relationships. I know firsthand that if you don’t address your own childhood crap, you’re going to eke out your issues all over the place. I didn’t want that for my life. …
This is Why it’s Bad to Ignore Your Childhood Crap Read More »
